Virgin Media to roll out 4G speeds offering free WhatsApp and data rollover

Virgin Media, the UK's largest mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), is ready to roll out 4G speeds in an attempt to lure customers away from the UK's four major carriers promising free WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, flexible contracts and data rollover.

The company's 4G deals would 'zero rate' WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, would not be included towards monthly data allowances. Also if users did not consume their monthly allocation, it could be carried forward to the following month.

Customers can also separate the cost of the handset from their contract so as to upgrade to a new one whenever they wanted and move up or down tariffs.

The cheapest deal on offer was £6 a month for 300 minutes, unlimited texts and 300MB of data, with the most expensive being £25 a month for 5,000 minutes, unlimited texts and 20GB.

''Virgin Media's new mobile plans are fast, flexible and filled with data,'' said Peter Kelly, head of mobile at Virgin Media. ''By offering free messaging on WhatsApp and Messenger we're making sure that Virgin Media customers never have to worry about messaging friends or family and if there's data left over at the end of the month then we've got that covered too.

''With 4G our customers have a quicker way to browse, message, stream and play wherever they are.''

According to Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, the decision to offer free messaging on WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger was a shrewd move. 

"Although these apps don't consume huge amounts of data, 42% of British mobile users continue to spend an extra £40 per year on out-of-tariff mobile charges," he said, mirror.co.uk reported. 

"With around four in ten incurring these costs by exceeding their mobile data allowances, every little helps."